OT: World Politics

[Wayward DP]

There's a certain vein of thinker in the Muscovy tradition that see this as an existential threat to their vision of Russia. Putin is really likely to number among them. I don't agree with Zeihan on a whole bunch of things, but I agree with him on this. The Russians very, very badly want 1) Their buffer territories back & 2) Free reign to be the dominant power in Europe. They see themselves and not Germany or France as the natural leaders of Europe. Their asiatic holdings are just the source of raw materials to support their European aspirations.

It's an ideology that needs to die tbh.

and it will only die/be eliminated through a convincing ass-kicking militarily*

 

[MindzEye]

and it will only die/be eliminated through a convincing ass-kicking militarily*

Agreed. The one thing the Russian populace simply won't stand for is weakness. They will eat miles and miles of authoritarian bullshit from any system of government as long as they deem Russia to be strong.

 

[axlsalinger]

 

[LeafGm]

Agreed. The one thing the Russian populace simply won't stand for is weakness. They will eat miles and miles of authoritarian bullshit from any system of government as long as they deem Russia to be strong.

Every time the Russians have lost a war in anything that could even be loosely called “recent history”, it’s been followed by a revolution.

 

[lecoqsportif]

The funny thing is that Putin keeps justifying this war, partly, as way of brining forward a multi-polar world in which the US is not hegemonic.

But Beijing, New Dehli and eventually Lagos must find this weird. Demographic and technological forces have pretty much baked in multi-polar world in the not too distant future.

Maybe this is about usurping Berlin’s role as the Euro voice. Can’t say he’s going about it the right way…

 

[MindzEye]

 

[lecoqsportif]

 

[MindzEye]

 

[Wayward DP]

if true, a lot lower than I thought/feared

 

[MindzEye]

if true, a lot lower than I thought/feared

That tracks with my expectations tbh. The tankie wet dreams of going 1 for 1 in Bakhmut has always seemed wishful as fuck for a few reasons. Both tactical/doctrinal and force structure/training didn't seem to align with that. Basically, the Ukies aren't throwing lives away as a matter of doctrine like we know the Russians do.

 

[lecoqsportif]

Hence the apparent retreats to previously reposition. We may be witnessing the benefits of those decisions.

 

[axlsalinger]

 

[axlsalinger]

 

[MindzEye]

FAFO Iran, FAFO.

 

[lecoqsportif]

Er, wait.

How does this square with the apparent detente between Prince Bone Sawdi and the Revolutionary Guard sponsored by Pooh Xi?

 

[lecoqsportif]

Russian aircraft are crashing on a daily basis over Russian territory…

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Looks like the US isn't the only country that needs to tax churches.

 

[axlsalinger]

 

[MindzEye]

Russian aircraft are crashing on a daily basis over Russian territory…

Either the Russians had a hell of a friendly fire incident, or the Ukies have new capabilities.

 

[lecoqsportif]

From what I’ve read, it seems to be both.